The Top-Tier Butler of the Marquis Family

Chapter 010

“Excuse me. It is Dilen, Training Officer.”

“What is it?”

The moment I saw his tired face, I knew instinctively.

So he had noticed that the documents were gone from the drawer!

Otherwise, there was no way he could have looked that weary and anxious at the same time.

How did I know?

Not to brag, but after spending several years getting ground down in graduate school, I had developed an almost supernatural ability to read the moods of my superiors.

If anyone wants to sharpen that skill, I recommend graduate school.

I am not joking. I truly mean it.

“I have something to report regarding Rosetta.”

“Have you already finished investigating the merchant company?”

“It is not about the merchant company. It is something else.”

Tilting his head, Training Officer Cornel raised a hand in a gesture for me to continue. I folded my hands politely in front of me and began my report.

“There is a banquet planned for this evening, hosted by Young Lady Sapiela. However, the quality of the ingredients is poor, so I was thinking of procuring some supplies from Primera.”

“Is that Chef Ramsay’s opinion?”

“It is mine.”

Training Officer Cornel looked at me with puzzled eyes.

In truth, everything I was doing had already gone beyond the scope of what a Butler Apprentice should be able to do.

But I could manage it.

I was someone who had received a modern education, after all.

At times like this, it was best to shield Chef Ramsay while emphasizing that the idea was my own.

Not because I was trying to protect Ramsay, but because I was creating a chance to earn merit for myself.

“I do not know whether Chef Irene will cooperate.”

“I believe we need to look at the bigger picture. Right now, this is not the time to worry about someone’s pride. We need to find a way to protect Young Lady Sapiela’s honor. If the distinguished guests she invited end up disappointed by the food, it will grieve her.”

Training Officer Cornel nodded.

At the same time, he watched me with suspicious eyes.

“Were you always this clever?”

“Hahaha. You flatter me. Perhaps because I hit my head, it seems to be working rather briskly.”

“Very well. I will write you a letter of cooperation. If it carries my name, Chef Irene should assist you.”

“Thank you.”

I remained standing where I was and watched Cornel prepare the document.

Ordinarily, he should have been writing it in one smooth flow.

But today, his pen stopped every so often in the middle.

“Training Officer, sir.”

“What is it?”

“Would it be all right if I looked at that book for a moment?”

I pointed with my hand toward the bookshelf beside the desk. Wearing an irritated expression, the Training Officer gave a rough nod and set his pen moving again.

The truth was, I had not asked because I wanted to read.

It was because, from the position of that bookshelf, I could clearly see the drawer that had been tightly locked yesterday.

Naturally, I pretended to take out a book while shifting my gaze behind me.

Bingo!

The drawer was slightly open.

Which meant that after arriving at work today, Training Officer Cornel had opened that drawer and checked it.

You must be sweating bullets by now.

I turned my head back and flipped through the book. Since I had no interest whatsoever in its contents, I only examined how books in this world were bound.

Just then, Cornel’s voice came from behind me.

“The document is finished, so take it with you. Chef Irene is more exacting than she appears, so you had better speak carefully.”

“Thank you for the advice. Then I will take my leave.”

I accepted the document, bowed, and turned to go, but he called out to me.

“What do you intend to do about the Arkain Merchant Company matter?”

It was a vague question.

What did he mean, what did I intend to do?

Expose the corruption and set things back to the way they should be, obviously.

At the same time, it also meant he was very much on edge.

“I have not yet heard back from the merchant company. They said the man in charge had gone out on business and they did not know when he would return. So I decided to wait a little longer.”

“You are assigned to Rosetta for only two more days. Once that period has passed, you are to remove your hands from this matter.”

“Understood.”

Of course, I had no intention of doing that.

I meant to suck it dry until every last drop of sweetness was gone.

The reason I could not yet speak concretely about that plan was simple: there were things I needed to learn by clashing with the Arkain Merchant Company directly.

Only once I felt, with my own body, what sort of force was backing them and how strong it was, would I be able to form a concrete plan.

With that, I offered him my respects once more and left the Training Officer’s office.

***

Primera, the First Dining Hall, was twice as large and far more splendid than Rosetta. This place too was full of people moving busily about, likely because breakfast was still being prepared.

At that moment, one of the Butler Apprentices working there recognized me and approached.

“What are you snooping around here for?”

It was not a friendly voice.

He seemed to know me, but I had absolutely no memory of him.

“I came to see Chef Irene.”

“Are you not assigned to Rosetta? What business does someone like you have with the chef?”

Before long, I might have to drag this bastard into a back room and teach him some manners. His tone was all wrong.

“I brought a letter from Training Officer Cornel. You look busy, so should you not get back to your work?”

“Tch.”

The moment I showed him the document, he smacked his lips and backed off. I almost asked his name, then decided against it.

It would only have been a waste of time.

I went straight into the kitchen and asked for Chef Irene. One of the cooks working there called her over for me.

“What did you say you came here for?”

I was unable to answer at once.

A tiny little thing not even a hundred and fifty centimeters tall was blinking up at me.

She looked like an elementary school child, and this person was the chef in charge of Primera?

I nearly blurted out, Are you really Irene?

When she frowned, I gave a dry laugh and got to the point.

“I have brought a message from Training Officer Cornel.”

“What is it?”

I handed her the document and briefly explained the situation. If I had opened by bluntly asking to borrow some ingredients, it felt as though I might have gotten smacked.

“There is a banquet scheduled at Rosetta this evening. It is a gathering hosted by Young Lady Sapiela. Numerous distinguished guests are expected to attend, but unfortunately there is a problem with the ingredients.”

“So. You came to get some ingredients from us?”

“That is correct. With the ingredients provided by the merchant company, it does not seem possible to hold a satisfactory banquet.”

“Is that your opinion?”

I nodded respectfully.

At the same time, I found myself wondering how old Chef Irene actually was. On the outside she truly looked exactly like a grade-school child, but if she was in charge of Primera, she had to be older than she appeared.

“Hmmm. This is troublesome. We are not exactly overflowing with ingredients on this side either.”

Naturally, quick-witted as ever, I caught the meaning hidden in those words.

She was telling me to show some sincerity.

But there was not much sincerity I could actually offer, aside from running my mouth.

“It was such an urgent situation that I did not have time to prepare properly. If the chef would grant us this favor, not only Rosetta but Young Lady Sapiela herself would be most pleased.”

Irene stared at me for a moment, then clicked her tongue.

“It cannot be helped. Since it is for the Young Lady’s event, I have no choice but to assist. I will give you the ingredients. In return, tell Rosetta that they are to come and pay their respects properly later.”

“Thank you! Thank you very much!”

“You there! Gather some ingredients for this apprentice. High-quality ones. Since they are for a banquet, make it the main ingredients.”

“Yes, Chef.”

The cooks moved busily at her order, and before long I was able to march triumphantly back into Rosetta with them.

Naturally, the corners of Ramsay’s mouth rose nearly to his ears.

“I did not think you would bring back ingredients this quickly. You are impressive for an apprentice!”

This old man just would not stop underestimating me.

But I received his words with a bright smile.

“Chef Irene said you are to come and see her properly later.”

“That would only be right. I cannot let this pass on an empty stomach. In any case, you worked hard in the middle of all this. Thanks to you, tonight’s banquet should pass without incident.”

Ramsay smiled in satisfaction as he watched the cooks preparing the ingredients.

But the smile soon faded.

Even if tonight’s banquet went smoothly, the problem would remain as long as the ingredient supplier was not changed.

Just then, a maid rushed inside.

“Young Lady Sapiela has arrived.”

“What?”

In an instant, tension spread through Rosetta.

All the cooks stopped what they were doing and waited for Sapiela to enter. A moment later, the main doors opened, and she appeared with a haughty expression.

I could feel the weight of her status in my skin.

One cook had been sautéing vegetables in oil, but even he could not move his hands while the ingredients continued burning. Everyone stood perfectly straight in formal respect.

According to Rohanpedia, Sapiela was the youngest child of the Adeline Marquis House and had been raised in extraordinary affection from the time she was young. Since she was the family’s only daughter, it was only natural they would cherish her dearly.

As a result, many people could not help but watch her carefully.

Even if she could not inherit the family, she was still one of the few people capable of moving the head of the household’s heart.

Chef Ramsay stepped forward as the representative and greeted her.

“It is an honor to see you, noble Young Lady. I trust you are in peace?”

“Of course. Ramsay, are preparations going well?”

“There is no cause for concern. We have just secured fresh ingredients, and it seems we will be able to present the banquet properly.”

“That is good to hear. As you know, today’s gathering is a very important one. I trust there will be no mistakes.”

Sapiela smiled beautifully.

But the words she spoke were filled with a frost-like chill.

Make one mistake, and I will show you exactly what happens.

That was the feeling of it.

Then, as it happened, she took an interest in me, standing nearby. Her gaze dropped to my waist.

It seemed the fact that a butler—an apprentice, no less—had worn a sword while carrying out an assignment had left a lasting impression on her.

“You are not wearing a sword today.”

“No, my lady. Today I intend to devote myself fully to preparing the banquet here.”

“I see.”

Meanwhile, every person working in Rosetta was staring at me in surprise.

The noble daughter of the marquis house had spoken to a worthless little apprentice?

And not merely in passing, but about something personal?

Such a thing should have been impossible.

But for me, it was possible.

Because I was special.

If I ever got the chance to choose myself a title later, something like The Special One might not be bad.

Sapiela then turned away, and the maids followed after her in a long line.

At the same time, the tension in Rosetta dissolved. Ramsay raised his voice again and resumed directing the scene.

***

Just before the banquet began in Rosetta, I finished my duties and returned to the quarters.

The preparations were done by apprentices, but the actual event was handled by regular butlers and maids.

In other words, amateurs were to step aside.

Thanks to that, I was able to resume my inspection assignment.

“The moonlight is nice. By now they are probably having a grand time eating and drinking at Rosetta.”

I gazed out the window and waited for the night to deepen.

Then, when the moon had risen directly overhead, I took out the sword I had hidden in the wardrobe. After fastening it at my waist and throwing on a robe, I left the mansion.

Tonight, I intended to see this through to the very end.

Swearing that to myself, I made my way toward the Arkain Merchant Company’s warehouse.

Along the way, I was stopped several times by the village guard, but the moment they saw the badge of the Adeline Marquis House on my chest, they lowered their heads.

Naturally, I did not make it obvious that I was only an apprentice. I merely looked at them with deep displeasure, and they instinctively backed down.

As expected, the world was something you lived in by sheer nerve.

Before long, I arrived at the Arkain Merchant Company’s warehouse. I hid myself behind a large tree nearby and observed the entrance.

“So they do have guards. One man... no, two.”

There was a large door for goods to pass through, and two men were guarding it. Holding my breath, I spent a short while watching their movements.